Big day in SEC: UK drills Louisville; Vols trash Texas

The Associated Press

Published Sunday, December 18, 2005

click photo to enlarge

KENTUCKY'S SHERAY THOMAS makes a shot over Louisville's David Padgett during the first half of their basketball game on Saturday, in Lexington, Ky. Louisville's Taquan Dean looks on at right. Kentucky won the game, 73-61. The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Rajon Rondo scored 25 points, setting a career high for the fourth time this season, and No. 23 Kentucky rebounded from its worst loss in 16 years to beat No. 4 Louisville 73-61 on Saturday.

Kentucky beat its archrival in consecutive years for the first time since winning three straight over the Cardinals from 2000 to 2002.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino -- who restored Kentucky basketball to glory in the 1990s -- has a 34-3 record in December during his five seasons with the Cardinals (6-1) with all three losses to Kentucky.

It was the 350th career victory for Kentucky's Tubby Smith. He is one of seven coaches to reach 350 wins in 15 seasons or less. His record is 350-123 in 15 seasons at Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky.

Kentucky (7-3) had lost two of its previous three games, including a 26-point defeat against Indiana on Dec. 10.

Louisville, playing away from home for the first time this season, made one of its first 14 shots while Kentucky took a 13-3 lead. The Cardinals finished 21-of-60 from the field (35 percent).

Memphis (8-1) never trailed, led by as many as 24 points and shot nearly 44 percent in winning its fifth straight game.

Memphis coach John Calipari started three freshmen and two sophomores. Carney, a senior captain and the preseason player of the year in Conference USA, showed off a variety of highlight-reel dunks and sent home happy a huge group of Memphis fans who made the 90-mile drive to Oxford.

Shawne Williams added 13 points for the Tigers.

Clarence Sanders led the Rebels (6-3) with 13 points.

Tennessee 95,No. 6 Texas 78

AUSTIN, Texas -- Chris Lofton scored 21 points and Tennessee kept up its perfect early season run under first-year coach Bruce Pearl by handing the Longhorns their second straight blowout loss.

A week earlier, Texas (8-2) was ranked No. 2 and off to its best start in 24 years. Then came a 31-point loss to No. 1 Duke and then this, a surprisingly easy Tennessee victory that snapped the Longhorns' 33-game home nonconference winning streak.

No. 8 Oklahoma 68,Southern U. 54

NORMAN, Okla. -- Taj Gray had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Sooners.

No. 10 Gonzaga 80,Virginia 69

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Adam Morrison scored 27 points and Gonzaga overcame some sloppy play to beat the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to ever play in Spokane.

Point guard Derek Raivio, returning after missing two games with a back injury, scored 18 points, including five 3-pointers, for Gonzaga (7-2), while J.P. Batista added 17 points.

No. 14 UCLA 68,Michigan 61

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jordan Farmar had 21 points and Arron Afflalo added 20 for UCLA, which held off a late rally to hand the Wolverines their first loss of the season.

The Bruins (8-1) are off to their best start since 1997-98.

UCLA led 63-50 with 4:35 left, but Michigan then scored nine straight points. Afflalo's steal and short pass to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute for a layup gave the Bruins a 65-59 lead, and some breathing room, with 1:23 left.

Reyshawn Terry scored eight of his 13 points during a key second-half run for the Tar Heels (6-1), who pulled away midway through the half in their first game after a 10-day exam break. Freshman Bobby Frasor also had 13 points to go with five rebounds and four assists.

Travis Niesen had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Broncos (4-4).

No. 22 Iowa 62,Arizona St. 43

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Adam Haluska scored 17 points and the Hawkeyes held Arizona State to season-lows in points and field goal percentage.

Haluska was 4-of-8 from the field and hit all six free throws to help the Hawkeyes (8-3) snap a two-game losing streak. Greg Brunner had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Mike Henderson added 10 points.

Kevin Kruger had 12 points for the Sun Devils (4-3), who shot 34 percent and made 3-of-13 3-point attempts, despite entering the game averaging 79 points and shooting 47 percent from 3-point range, second-best in the country.